Three teams broke finals droughts with impressive wins, while Box Hill advanced to its third preliminary final in four years.

GEELONG CATS         2.4        6.5        10.9     13.11 (89)
TASMANIA                 2.2        4.6        6.8        9.12 (66)

Minor premier Geelong will host a Smithy’s VFL preliminary final after breaking through for its first VFL finals win in 13 years with a 22-point triumph over Tasmania at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday. Playing in a final in their debut campaign, the Devils’ nerves were settled quickly when Zach Adams slotted home the first goal of the game inside 30 seconds of play. The visitors would also boot the second goal of the match at the 16-minute mark before the Cats eventually responded with two majors of their own to lead by two points at quarter time. Jay Rantall would replicate Zach Adams’ efforts at the start of the second quarter with a goal inside 30 seconds, before the Devils levelled things up by the 11-minute mark. Geelong would end the half with some momentum and an 11-point advantage before Jesse Mellor continued the early goal kicking trend to start the third term, as he saluted for his second major after only 31 seconds. The minor premiers kept Tasmania at bay throughout the third term and went into the final change 25 points ahead before three more last quarter majors ensured their first finals victory since the 2013 preliminary final. Four Cats kicked multiple goals including Mitch Knevitt who was arguably best on ground with a performance that included 30 disposals, 18 contested possessions, seven tackles and seven marks (five of those contested). George Stevens also continued his great form, amassing 31 touches, eight clearances and eight score involvements, meanwhile Nathan Kreuger performed well in defence with eight rebound 50s. Bailey Boag (30 disposals, seven clearances) and Robbie Fox (26 disposals, five rebound 50s) led the way for Tasmania, with Nick Williams also important in defence with eight intercept possessions.

BEST
Geelong Cats: Mitch Knevitt, George Stevens, Joe Pike, Lachlan Weidemann, Jack Bowes, Jacob Molier
Tasmania: Nick Williams, Joseph Chaplin, Bailey Boag, Robbie Fox, Brandon Leary, Lachlan Hay
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ESSENDON                 2.1        7.3        11.7     14.12 (96)
WILLIAMSTOWN       3.3        4.6        6.8        7.9 (51)

Essendon recorded a seventh-consecutive victory and marked its return to finals for the first time in seven years with a 45-point win over Williamstown at Windy Hill. It was an even opening term, with both sides producing ample opportunities in front of goal. Both sides would trade majors with the Seagulls holding a narrow eight-point lead at quarter time, before the Bombers made their move with four goals in eight minutes to start the second term. It put the away side on the backfoot, but they managed to halt the bleeding to keep the margin at a manageable 16 points at half time. The home side would gradually increase their advantage throughout the third term and headlined by two majors from Hussien El Achkar, the Bombers would be 29-point leaders at three quarter time. Williamstown’s cause wasn’t aided by injuries to Alex Mirvov and Aidan Bonar, and despite their persistent fight they were unable to contain the Bombers in the last. The home side produced eight scoring shots in the final term whilst conceding just two to cruise their way through to a first finals win in seven years and produce their highest winning margin in a final since the 2015 semi. El Achkar would be one of four Bombers to kick multiple goals, with Nik Cox’s three majors leading the way. For the sixth-straight game Elijah Tsatas finished with north of 30 disposals, amassing 32 touches and eight clearances in the win. Vigo Visentini (36 hitouts, 15 disposals) and Xavier O’Neill (28 disposals, six score involvements) were also crucial. The Seagulls were led best another terrific effort in defence from Luke Parks who had 16 disposals, 10 marks and nine intercept possessions. Williamstown’s defeat ends their season and Justin Plapp’s tenure as coach after six seasons, which included taking the Seagulls to four consecutive finals campaigns.

BEST
Essendon: Xavier O’Neill, Vigo Visentini, Matt Guelfi, Tyler Sellers, Hussien El Achkar, Will Setterfield
Williamstown: Luke Parks, David Cuningham, Kye Turner, Jake Greiser, Toby Triffett
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PORT MELBOURNE  4.4        6.8        11.10   17.14 (116)
SYDNEY SWANS      3.2        5.3        8.7        9.7 (61)

Port Melbourne earnt a place in the Smithy’s VFL semi final for the first time since 2019 after delivering in a 55-point elimination final triumph over Sydney at North Port Oval. Seven goals were kicked between the two sides in the opening term, with the Borough edging out an early eight-point quarter time lead. Having posted 12 and 10-goal first halves in their past two matches, the Swans were restricted to only five this time around, however Port Melbourne didn’t quite make the most of their opportunities in the second term, kicking 2.4 to only lead by 11 points at the main break. Port Melbourne eventually got reward for effort in the third quarter with five goals to open a 21-point lead at the final break, before a Riley Polkinghorne goal inside the first minute of the last term set the tone for what was to come. The Borough went on with the job with six goals in the final stanza to salute for their biggest finals win since the 2011 Grand Final over Williamstown. It was no surprise to see Ben Hobbs playing a key role in the win, with the former AFL midfielder amazing 30 disposals, 10 inside 50s and eight clearances, while Dom Bedendo, Luca Alessio and Max Rider all kicked three majors. Meanwhile the efforts of Matthew Gahan (10 rebound 50s, seven intercept possessions) helped keep the Swans to their lowest score of the season. Ned Bowman (27 disposals, eight rebound 50s, eight intercepts) and Jake Sutton (20 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 10 clearances) were among Sydney’s best.

BEST
Port Melbourne: Matthew Gahan, Dom Bedendo, Michael Rudd, Ben Hobbs, Josh Green, Tom Hird
Sydney Swans: Ned Bowman, Corey Warner, Jake Sutton, Mitch Mellis
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WERRIBEE                   2.4        7.4       12.6     15.6 (96)
BOX HILL HAWKS       5.2        10.4     11.7     16.13 (109)

Box Hill will feature in the preliminary final for the third time in four seasons after accounting for an injury-ravaged Werribee by 13 points at Melbourne Avalon Airport. Fielding a team with 17 AFL-listed players against a Werribee outfit missing injured stars Ryan Eyers, Jay Dahlhaus and Lachie Charleson, the Hawks threatened to break the game open late in the first term when they booted four goals in four minutes to lead by 16 points at quarter time. They put the Tigers even further on the backfoot with two goals inside the first two minutes of the second term to stretch the lead out to 28 points before an Anthony Depasquale-led surge helped the hosts get the margin back to 10 points halfway through the term. The quarter would continue to ebb and flow, with the Hawks kicking the next three goals before the Tigers fought back to cut the deficit to 18 points at half time. The away side still led by 17 points at the 14-minute mark of the third term before conceding a run of four straight goals inside just seven minutes, which included a hat trick to Werribee young gun Brady Wright. However, the home side suffered a cruel blow just before three-quarter time when star ruck Ajang Kuol Mun was stretchered from the field with a knee injury. His exit from the game saw the Hawks’ big men get on top in the final term. Successive goals from Sam Butler put Box Hill back in front before Depasquale’s fifth cut it back to a two-point ball game. But it would be the closest Werribee would get, as goals from Calsher Dear, Ned Reeves and Brodie McLaughlin sent the Hawks on their way to another preliminary final. Dear booted a season-high four majors to help his side kick a winning score, whilst three majors and 22 disposals from Sam Butler were also influential. Ollie Greeves and Finn Maginness were each prolific in the middle, both amassing 26 disposals and seven clearances. Depasquale’s five majors for Werribee made it 12 goals in two weeks for the crafty forward, meanwhile Dom Brew was a bull in the middle with 25 disposals, 12 tackles and eight inside 50s.

BEST
Werribee: Mitch Lloyd, Dom Brew, Louis Pinnuck, Anthony Depasquale, Micah Robb, Ajang Kuol Mun
Box Hill Hawks: James Blanck, Ollie Greeves, Calsher Dear, Noah Mraz, Finn Maginness, Matthew LeRay
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